PRESQUE ISLE – The recent Nordic Heritage Sprint Races and Classic Races proved to be one of the Maine Winter Sports Center’s top attractions to date. The event drew hundreds of racers and spectators and awarded more than $8,000 in prize money.

“I’ll bet there were 250 cars in the parking lot [at the Aroostook Center Mall on Monday night],” said Mike Tibbetts of Easton, driver of one of the three Fort Fairfield school buses that shuttled volunteers and spectators to the venue each day.

Greg and Mary Curtis of Presque Isle aren’t avid skiers, but “just wanted to see the races,” said Greg. “It’s really exciting.”

The Curtis’ 11-year-old daughter, Laurel, thought that the best part of the races was “going inside and getting warm, and then coming out to watch again.”

The crowd that gathered for the finals of the 1-kilometer sprint races, estimated at close to 400 people, braved a wind chill that was well below zero while being treated to a spectacular fireworks display, several photo finishes, and a racers representing MWSC.

Jessica Sirois, Lisa Helstrom, and Mark Dionne came out to watch their friend, fellow Presque Isle High student Chelsae Jarvis.

“It’s cold, but it’s worth it,” said a shivering Sirois.

“I’m really impressed with the facility,” added Helstrom. “I never thought anything like this, anything exciting like this, could happen in Presque Isle.”

Competing in the Junior Women’s division (skiers born in 1983 or later), Jarvis, 17, posted an impressive sixth- place finish with a time of 2 minutes, 31.3 seconds. Many of the skiers in this division currently ski at the college level.

As one of the hometown favorites, Jarvis appreciated being cheered on by so many fans.

“It’s awesome to see this many people around,” she said. “We’re usually the ones traveling like 10 hours to compete in a ski race, so it’s nice to have it right here.”

Several other MWSC competitors also found success at the sprints.

Reid Doiron, a native of Readfield who currently attends the University of Maine-Fort Kent, finished fourth in the Junior Men’s division in 2:00.94. In the Senior Men’s division, where prize money was awarded to the top five finishers, Dave Stewart collected $200 for his fourth-place finish, and Jason Lemieux brought home $100 for finishing in fifth place.

But it was the performance of MWSC Community Development coach John Farra that enticed onlookers away from the warmth of the lodge and into the frigid night as he took home first place with a time of 1:47.74 in the Senior Men’s Division, winning $1,000.

Farra, now living in Limestone, skied for the U.S. in the 1992 Olympics but has been out of competitive racing for several years.

“This is just incredible,” said an exhausted Farra after the final, his third 1-kilometer race of the day. “I mean, to be here in front of this crowd, with my wife and 18-month-old daughter watching, the other MWSC coaches, and a lot of the young kids that I coach – it’s just a great feeling!”

After watching the sprint final, Joey Bard, one of Farra’s students from Woodland who would later compete in the J4 (ages 10-11) division, said “this was like a once in a lifetime event. It’s awesome seeing our coach winning this thing. It will be a little extra boost [for the races to come].”.

Farra’s win capped the Nordic Heritage Sprint races, and set the tone for the next day’s Classic races.

Featuring 15 different age groups, including an open division, skiers ranging from age 7 to 80 competed in races of varying distances. And once more, MWSC racers skied their way to the awards ceremony podium.

In the J2 (ages 14-15) boys division, Russell Currier of Stockholm passed race leader Pavel Sotskov of Vermont in the final stretch of their 5K race to eke out the win, while Stewart again put himself and MWSC in the money, this time with a second-place finish and a $500 prize in the 10K senior men’s race.

Torin Koos, who skied for the U.S. at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, was fourth in that race.

“[MWSC coach] Eli Brown told me that the competition would be pretty good, and it was,” said Koos. “They put on a great event. I’m looking forward to coming back to the County when my schedule will allow it. I would definitely roll on up here and do some more racing. They know what they’re doing up here.”

Those interested in more skiing competitions, should mark their calendars for the Peoples’ Bank Festival at Fort Kent to be held on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18-19. Taking place at the 10th Mountain Center in Fort Kent, MWSC’s other state-of-the-art training facility, the biathlon races will offer $2,400 in prize money and $2,000 in scholarships.

On March 20-25, the Nordic Heritage Center will host the Spring Series races, with $16,800 in prize money up for grabs.

Competitors and spectators seeking more details on these races should visit the Maine Winter Sports Center on the web at www.mainewsc.org.